Watch Elemental

Elemental is a visually stunning documentary film that explores the relationship between humans and nature. The film is directed by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee and features Chief Alan Adam, Francesca Bertone, and Kelsey Chapman as its primary subjects. The movie follows the lives of three ecologists from around the world who are united by their passion for preserving nature. Each of them faces unique challenges in their work, from Chief Alan Adam of the First Nations Beaver Lake Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada, who is fighting to protect his people's land and traditional way of life from the destructive effects of the tar sands industry, to Francesca Bertone, a young Italian architect who is working to create eco-friendly buildings that minimize their impact on the environment.

Kelsey Chapman, a marine biologist from Santa Cruz, California, is also featured in the film. Chapman is studying the impacts of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Throughout the film, viewers are treated to breathtaking scenes of natural landscapes, from the forests of Canada to the coral reefs of Indonesia. The filmmakers employ stunning cinematography and time-lapse photography to capture the beauty of nature and its importance to our world.

Elemental also explores the challenges that these ecologists face in their work. For Chief Alan Adam, it's the struggle to balance economic development with environmental protection. His fight against the tar sands industry highlights the tension between the need for jobs and the need to preserve the natural world.

Francesca Bertone faces her own challenges as an architect trying to create sustainable buildings. She confronts the issue of building codes and regulations that prioritize cheap, disposable materials over eco-friendly ones, making it more difficult for her to build structures that minimize their impact on the environment.

Kelsey Chapman's research into ocean acidification reveals the devastating effects that pollution and climate change are having on marine ecosystems. She emphasizes the need for policymakers to take action to protect our oceans and the communities that depend on them.

As the film progresses, Elemental shows the interconnectedness of these issues, demonstrating how our actions as individuals and as a society have a profound impact on the natural world. It highlights the need for all of us to take responsibility for preserving our planet and the importance of working together to find solutions to the environmental challenges we face.

One of the most striking aspects of Elemental is the way it emphasizes the spiritual and cultural connections that humans have to the natural world. Chief Alan Adam speaks eloquently about the traditional teachings of his people that emphasize the importance of respecting and caring for nature. Francesca Bertone also draws on spiritual and cultural traditions in her work, highlighting the importance of finding ways to integrate our modern lives with the natural world in a sustainable way.

Overall, Elemental is a powerful documentary that raises important questions about our relationship with the natural world. Through the stories of three ecologists, viewers gain a deep appreciation for the beauty and significance of nature and the urgent need to protect it for future generations. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in environmental issues, sustainability, or the interconnectedness of ecological and social challenges.

Elemental is a 2013 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 63.